The steering feels natural, the whole car points and throttle-steers just as a compact, rear-drive sports car should

Arguably inspired by the Lotus Elan, the MX-5 has become a sort of classic in its own right. Early ones have, anyway; but the third-generation one launched in 2005 lost the plot dramatically. For all the launch-talk of 'man and horse as one', this MX-5 suffered sticky, rubbery steering with uncertain self-centring, plus a sudden transition to oversteer and stable of lacklustre engines.

But it wasn't all bad. Weight stayed low despite a roomier cabin, and the looks were back to the original's tautness. And now the engineers have acted on the criticisms to make Generation Three the car they intended it to be.

Most fundamentally, the front roll centre is 26mm lower. Among other things, this improves the steering's linearity of response and build-up of weight. The engines are smoother and sweeter thanks to stronger reciprocating parts, too.

Drive this revised MX-5, with Elan-like front air intake now ousted by a 'five-point' aperture, and you'll encounter a car transformed. The steering feels natural, the whole car points and throttle-steers just as a compact, rear-drive sports car should. The 2.0 in Sport spec (Bilsteins, suspenion cross-brace, six gears) is sharpest and rortiest, the regular 1.8 somehow the most pleasing (and cheapest at £16,345). And the one-hand-operated soft-top is still the simplest and neatest in existence. Welcome back, MX-5.